iheartcories
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
I'm in the process of changing from my 10 gallon tank to a 20 gallon. Let me start by saying that when I originally went from gravel to sand in my 10 gallon I definitely did NOT wash the sand enough so it took 5 days to settle -- though it finally did settle and my fish were happily sifting and digging.
When I bought more sand so I would have enough for the 20 gallon, I went all out rinsing the new sand so I wouldn't have to wait as long. I rinsed it about 10 times or more -- until it was crystal clear water in the bucket. I put the sand in the 20 gallon, added about 5 gallons of water, then waiting until it was almost done settling. Then I used a small shovel to take the sand from my 10 gallon and tried to gently lay it in my 20 gallon. I was thinking that MAYBE it would take a few days like it did before.
It's now been 7 days and yesterday the water didn't seem any clearer. Last night I changed out 3 gallons, this time pouring the new water into a cup so it wouldn't disturb the sand as much. It already looks better than it did this whole week.
My question is should I start running a filter? I've read completely opposite views on this and I'm not sure what to go with. Some people have posted that a filter really helps it clear up, others swear that it will completely ruin the filter if you run it when there's still sand particles floating around.
I'm worried about the fish in my current tank going this long without a substrate -- I wasn't thinking it would take this long for the sand to settle so I could make the switch.
When I bought more sand so I would have enough for the 20 gallon, I went all out rinsing the new sand so I wouldn't have to wait as long. I rinsed it about 10 times or more -- until it was crystal clear water in the bucket. I put the sand in the 20 gallon, added about 5 gallons of water, then waiting until it was almost done settling. Then I used a small shovel to take the sand from my 10 gallon and tried to gently lay it in my 20 gallon. I was thinking that MAYBE it would take a few days like it did before.
It's now been 7 days and yesterday the water didn't seem any clearer. Last night I changed out 3 gallons, this time pouring the new water into a cup so it wouldn't disturb the sand as much. It already looks better than it did this whole week.
My question is should I start running a filter? I've read completely opposite views on this and I'm not sure what to go with. Some people have posted that a filter really helps it clear up, others swear that it will completely ruin the filter if you run it when there's still sand particles floating around.
I'm worried about the fish in my current tank going this long without a substrate -- I wasn't thinking it would take this long for the sand to settle so I could make the switch.
